Noble Visitors …
It’s another record year, never been 2015 before, as far as we are aware.
And in the garden it’s been another record, but who’s counting … I can’t help noticing the increase in variety and numbers of insect visitors, especially now the butterfly bushes are flowering and a few years work with the soil is bearing fruit.
It is said the Stag is a noble beast – I remember that from somewhere. Maybe it comes from the old English kings practise of hunting them, they had to be noble for kings to hunt them …
But really, kings are just ordinary men dressed up. Every body is of noble blood, all god – whatever that is – made. And the antlered beetle is no exception.
All god made things, and all things god made. To exclude one is to invite conflict to the mind.
Try maintaining a prejudice, a psychological position, without some conflict appearing.
As within, so without. And nothing is absolute, both ways …
© Mark Berkery ……. Click a picture for a closer look
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Nature's Place 
This beetle has a lot of personality… quite an inquisitive look. And I love how hairy it is underneath, almost cuddly.
Lively little thing for sure …
Wow, what a handsome creature! All we have here with antlers are the dumb ol’ deer. :) Great shots, Mark!
Thanks Cate. You mean the noble stag of course … :-)
That’s a Buddleia flower spike your beetle is on. Interesting. Were they after some nectar do you think? Not entirely sure what beetles eat or if they bother eating anything in their short (?) lives, mating being the main objective.
My little Buddleias are growing well but a long way off flowering. Can’t wait to see what they attract:)
Yes, it is Lissa. They feed and mate on the flowers, like old hippies – where the hippies got it from. I’ve seen beetles eat all sorts, fruit and nectar is what I would provide them.
It doesn’t take long for the Buddleias to set down roots and start up. I got a few more for pots – can move them from the heat of summer if need be, the really dark purple one that was so loved early on by so many natives.
A fantastic insect and photos to match.
Thanks David …
Love the second shot, Mark. Can’t tell if it’s curious or pissed off, but that one has plenty of options for captions.
Thanks Steve. I think it may have been just full of beans, mating time – you know … :-) It may just have been at the end of the flower spike and needing to turn, they are awkward to move in small spaces. And sometimes they won’t move for their life, at others they won’t keep still.
That first shot is amazing. Lovely, thanks.
Thanks Karen. That was just one of those, right place and time, and ready …
What a wonderful beetle! Great shots!!!
Thanks Mary …